Articles on "Remodeling and Universal Design"
Make Homes Safer for Active Adult and Senior Living
There is no question that for many Americans, home is where the heart is. Contrary to popular stereotypes, most older adults close to retirement age do not choose to pack up and move to warmer climates in their retirement years. According to a recent AARP study, nearly ninety percent of adults 50 and older want to remain in their current home and community. And who can blame them? It’s the place they’ve shared their lives together and often raised a [...]
Find an Aging in Place Specialist in Home Health Aide
Countless studies have shown that homeowners overwhelmingly prefer to age in a familiar place, but when daily life can become too much to manage, substantial home alternations may be necessary. Certified Aging-In-Place specialists (CAPS) can help reconcile the need for a familiar environment with the need to prioritize safety and accessibility. Such specialists have been trained in the specific needs of the older adult population and unique ways to modify homes. They are also experts in designing common remodeling projects [...]
How to Assess Your Home as Healthcare Ready
As a person ages, everyday activities often become challenging. This results in a lower quality of life on many levels, from the physical to the psychological. The results of a unique home intervention study showed that individualizing home evaluations and involving the patient in decision-making can have a dramatic positive effect on functional abilities. The following interview with Laura N. Gitlin, Ph.D, a research sociologist and professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy and director of the Center for Applied [...]
Taking on the Challenge of Caregiving
One of the biggest challenges for caregivers that support a family member or a loved one while managing their own lives is finding balance. It can be difficult finding time for themselves between working full-time, ensuring their loved one is safe while they’re working, and then making time to care for that person outside of work. However difficult that may be, caregivers can find solace in knowing that their loved ones are being taken care of, and there are ways [...]
Senior Living: An Accessible and Safer Home
Inabelle Levin has always loved going to the opera and attending concerts and plays. But among her various interests, nothing compares to her passion for teaching. And through her personal determination and research along with the help of Greg Sieb, an aging-in-place specialist, she can now remain at home working as an academic tutor. For several months, Inabelle’s family and friends were urging her to move into an assisted living home. Due to the difficulty she has with mobility, they [...]
Community Retirement: The Neighborhood You Dream About
The Village Movement is prompting communities to think about creative solutions for aging in place. Imagine you are living in a community where you know your neighbors. Imagine that your patio needs weeding, and you prefer not to do it. In this neighborhood, a simple phone call can have someone over to take care of your weeding. Perhaps you need some home repairs, or you are returning home from the hospital after surgery and need some assistance. In this neighborhood, [...]
Living Senior: The Partnership Between AARP and Rebuilding Together
Today, Edith of Alexandria, Va. is thankful for a group of community citizens who, in 1986, noticed a major problem and became the solution. With the city’s lack of a program offering free home repairs to low-income residents, these individuals created its Rebuilding Together affiliate (RTA), in which their main concern was the well-being of the elderly, disabled, and families with children. Existing in all 50 states, Rebuilding Together is the nation’s largest volunteer home rehabilitation organization and is only [...]
Living Independent: How To Create a Home For All Generations
Families know life is full of unforeseen obstacles. Modifying the home to incorporate cutting-edge, barrier-free living features will help enrich the lives of active families as they change over time. Homes with universal design features aren’t just for those who want to grow old and stay put. They are for families at any life stage, who want the peace of mind that they won’t have to move as their circumstances change. Families with young children, people with temporary or permanent [...]
How To Age in a Unique Place with Universal Design for Retired Seniors
A gently sloped, semi-circle brick walkway provides an important and accurate first impression of a home that stands out from its neighbors. Well-kept ramblers line the streets of the well-established neighborhood in Arlington, VA where Rick Barry and Linda Cox built their very practical dream home. The wide walkway doubles as an accessible entryway and a parking area for large family gatherings and is the first introduction to the themes of dual purpose design and attention to detail that are [...]
How To Prevent Falls in the Home of Elders
You may be only a step away from becoming a victim of the leading cause of unintentional home injuries-falls. The Home Safety Council reports, that nearly 5.1 million Americans are injured each year as a result from falls in and around the home. While people of every age are vulnerable to falls, older adults are particularly at risk. However, there are a number of steps that older adults can take to identify and correct potential falls hazards in and around [...]
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